_How Gonzalo Pizarro and his friends induced the municipality of
Cuzco to nominate him Chief Justice, which was done against the
wishes of many._
Gonzalo Pizarro rejoiced at being appointed captain against the Inca,
because it was a step in the direction he wanted to go. Talking with the
principal people of Cuzco, they discussed together the intention of the
Viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela to enforce the ordinances, Pizarro pointing
out that he had been induced to come from Charcas to help them, and that
they should unite to name him Procurator, that he might have power to go
and to supplicate in their favour. Letters kept arriving from Lima and
from other parts urging him to lose no time in marching from Cuzco. The
members of the municipality had a meeting where many speeches were made
touching this business. At length it was agreed that Gonzalo Pizarro
should be given authority, in the name of the city, to march to Lima and
see that the ordinances were suspended until they had been again
submitted to his Majesty the King. The people of Cuzco would risk their
lives, goods and estates to secure this.
Gonzalo Pizarro, after this resolution, went about with armed men, and
showed by his words and bearing that he expected something more than the
title of Procurator. The Licentiate Leon had now arrived at Cuzco and
rejoiced very much when he heard what had taken place. The Licentiate de
la Gama had written letters in which he said many bad things against the
Viceroy.
As soon as Gonzalo Pizarro was nominated Procurator, he began to talk
with Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo, Cermeño, Alonso de Toro, Tomas
Vasquez, and his other friends, to concert measures for turning the
minds of the citizens to receive him as Chief Justice, for if this was
done he would have complete control of everything. The members of the
municipality were much opposed, for it seemed to them that Gonzalo
Pizarro, against their wishes, wanted to raise the country in opposition
to the Viceroy. They would not give their consent, and some of them
murmured, saying--“Perhaps you do not see the consequence of such an
advance to contend against the Viceroy.” They cursed those who had
written from Lima, and that Gonzalo Pizarro, believing them too easily,
should have come to the city, leaving the town where he resided.
When Pizarro understood this attitude of some of the citizens, he said
that he did not wish to be Procurator of such an ungrateful city, and he
did not desist from going about accompanied by arquebusiers and
musketeers. There was then another meeting of the municipal officers,
who made the following proposal, copied exactly from the original, which
I saw in possession of a notary.
“In the city of Cuzco, 26th of June 1544, in presence of Gomez de
Chaves, public notary. The Captain Gonzalo Pizarro was there and said ‘I
will resign the offices of Captain-General and Procurator of this
kingdom because the magistrates and other officials of it do not wish to
include the office of Chief Justice. If they should wish to entrust me
with that duty I should not shrink from it, but would use and exercise
it as I am instructed by them. Because it will conduce to the
pacification of the soldiers, I desire to be chosen for that office,
that being my desire, and I sign this with my name.’ Witnesses--the
Captain Francisco de Almendras and the Captain Cermeño.”
When Gonzalo Pizarro said this, some of those who were at the meeting,
were very much disturbed. For while, on one side, Gonzalo Pizarro said
that he would resign the appointments of Captain and Procurator, on the
other the armed men who were with him seemed ready to elect and nominate
him as Chief Justice. So they were afraid to come to a decision. The
arquebusiers outside fired some shots to give those inside to understand
what would happen to them if they did not obey.
In conclusion, after some further discussion, the votes were given in
the following manner.
Juan Velez de Guevara, Magistrate for his Majesty, said that he would
vote, and give as his opinion that the Captain Gonzalo Pizarro should be
Captain-General and Chief Justice, and to this he signed his name.
Then Antonio de Altamirano, Alcalde, gave his vote that Gonzalo Pizarro
should be Chief Justice, and signed his name.
Next the Captain Diego Maldonado the rich said that as his desire was to
do what was best for his Majesty’s service, he requested his colleagues
to let him consult some one with more learning, after which he would be
prepared to answer.
Hernando Bachicao, a Magistrate, said that his vote and opinion was that
the Captain Gonzalo Pizarro should be Chief Justice until his Majesty
should otherwise provide, and he signed his name.
Francisco Maldonado said that his vote and opinion was that as the
ordinary Alcaldes were occupied in civil and criminal lawsuits, and as
there were many soldiers in the city, the number daily increasing, the
Captain Gonzalo Pizarro should be Chief Justice, and he signed his name.
Diego Maldonado de Alamos said that his vote and opinion was to seek
what was best for the service of God our Lord, and for that of his
Majesty, and for the good and service of the city and its people. He had
not learning to be able to certify that the request of Captain Gonzalo
Pizarro was right, nor whether he had the power to make him Chief
Justice as a Magistrate of that city, and to this he put his name.
Juan Julio de Hojeda said that his opinion was the same as that of Diego
Maldonado de Alamos, and to this he signed his name. Then followed a
document as follows:
“And presently, the votes of the Alcaldes and Magistrates having been
seen, they said that the Captain Gonzalo Pizarro was chosen and
nominated Chief Justice, and powers were given to him which appertain to
that Office. They received the oath in due form, and he promised to use
and exercise the Office according to law, and these names were signed”:
Gonzalo Pizarro
Juan Velez de Guevara
Francisco Maldonado
Diego Maldonado de Alamos
Hernando Bachicao
Juan Julio de Hojeda.
They say that, at this time, the Licentiates de la Gama, Carbajal, Leon,
and Barba and the bachelor Guevara, gave votes and opinions that Gonzalo
Pizarro should go with an armed force to supplicate respecting the
ordinances, and that they would show that this was legal and right. Even
worse things than these were said, and votes were given which caused no
little harm, many simple people, believing what was told them, following
the tyrant in his rebellion.